Aug. 31, 2000
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri junior defensive end Justin Smith has been named one of 36 standouts to the pre-season "Watch List" for the 2000 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an award which goes to the top defensive player in college football.
Smith, a Jefferson City, Mo. native, enters the 2000 season with pre-season all-America honors from several publications. He needs just seven quarterback sacks to break the MU career record of 18 by Rick Lyle.
Here's a listing of the Nagurski candidates...
BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY - 2000 "WATCH LIST"
Player School Position Dyshod Carter Kansas State Cornerback Larry Casher Auburn Cornerback Tay Cody Florida State Cornerback Daninelle Derricott Marshall Cornerback Jamar Fletcher Wisconsin Cornerback Fred Smoot Mississippi State CornerbackAkin Ayodele Purdue Defensive End Alex Brown Florida Defensive End Patrick Chukwurah Wyoming Defensive End John Favret Wisconsin Defensive End DeJuan Goulde Toledo Defensive End Justin Kurpeikis Penn State Defensive End Julius Peppers North Carolina Defensive End Aaron Schobel TCU Defensive End Justin Smith Missouri Defensive End
Kenyon Coleman UCLA Defensive Tackle Casey Hampton Texas Defensive Tackle Chris Hoke BYU Defensive Tackle Monsanto Pope Virginia Defensive Tackle Richard Seymour Georgia Defensive Tackle
Keith Adams Clemson Linebacker Quinton Caver Arkansas Linebacker Rick Crowell Colorado State Linebacker Zeke Moreno Southern Cal Linebacker Dan Morgan Miami Linebacker Chris Nofoaiga Idaho Linebacker Kautai Olevao Utah Linebacker Brent Passey Utah State Linebacker Tommy Polley Florida State Linebacker Saleem Rasheed Alabama Linebacker Tim Skipper Fresno State Linebacker Eric Westmoreland Tennessee Linebacker Clayton White N.C. State Linebacker Jamie Winborn Vanderbilt Linebacker
Jared Lee BYU Safety Travis Ortega Rice Safety